Auxiliary merchandise basket



A ril 22, 1958 R. J. SLAVSKY ETAL 2,831,598

AUXILIARY MERCHANDISE BASKET Filed Dec. 21, 1954 2' INVENTORS} AoBERr J. sKK 1 Jail .4. s Avs/o.

Un d swa a efi AUXILIARY MERCHANDISE BASKET Robert J. Slavsky and John R. Slavsky, Detroit, Mich. Application December 21, 1954, Serial No. 476,686

1 Claim. (Cl. 22018) The present invention pertains to a novel auxiliary merchandise basket for use in various stores and especially in super markets. It is desirable to attach such a basket to a permanent fixture in the store or market, such as a counter, display case, shelving or other fixtures that support merchandise in such manner that it may be picked up by the customer in self-service. The auxiliary basket is intended in most cases to carry items related to the merchandise supported by the main fixture. For example, an auxiliary basket mounted on a vegetable stand may contain packages or jars of salad dressing. Many additional relations of this character exist throughout a market and will readily occur'to those versed in the trade.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive auxiliary basket that is easily mounted on the fixture. Another object is to provide the basket with adjustable means adapted to bear against the fixture for the purpose of holding the basket in a level condition or at an angle if desired. A further object is to provide the basket with means for carrying display cards or price tags.

In the accomplishment of these objects, the basket is a box-like member preferably made up of heavy wire elements welded together. The basket is suspended from the supporting fixture by a pair of hooks. In order to regulate the plane of the bottom of the basket, which in most cases is to be horizontal, the bottom carries two or more transverse tubes with a rod slidably mounted in each and directed toward the fixture. The exposed ends of the rods carry rubber tips which are brought into engagement with the frontof the fixture and then secured in the adjustment that maintains the bottom of the basket in the desired plane. The adjustment is fixed by a set screw threaded in each tube and bearing against the corresponding rod therein.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which t Figure 1 is a plan view of the device;

Figure 2 is a front elevation;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

Although the invention is not limited to the specific construction of the container part of the device, the latter is preferably in the form of a basket with an open top. The bottom B consists of a number of heavy longitudinal wires 1 spaced apart and welded to U-shaped transverse members 2 and also to other transverse members that will later be described. The four vertical sides of the basket are made up of a series of rectangular wire frames 3 spaced apart vertically in a manner to enclose the area of the bottom and held in position by vertical rods 4 which in turn are welded at their lower ends to the bottom structure. This structure includes a heavier U- shaped wire 5 forming the front F and sides S of the bottom rectangle, and the vertical wires 4 are welded to the member 5 as shown.

A-pair of L-shaped heavy wire members 6 are secured across the bottom wires 1 near the ends thereof and extend upward along the rear side of the basket, to which they are also secured. The vertical legs of the members 6 are in fact in the form of hooks 7 which are sheathed in rubber tubing 8 for suspension on a fixture, as will be presently described. I

A pair of tubes 10 are also secured across the bottom structure on the outer surface thereof. In each such tube is slidably mounted a rod 11 with a rubber tip 12 on its exposed end. The outer end of each tube 10 carlies a heavy collar 14 with a set screw 15 therein for securing the rod in the desired adjustment.

In the example shown, the basket is suspended from a vegetable stand comprising a base or body 16 with a molding 17 along its forward upper edge. The books 7 are merely engaged with the molding 17, which is suflicient to suspend the basket. However, the level of the bottom of the basket is determined by adjustment preferably of the rods 11. The tips 12 are brought into engage ment with the base 1, and the rods pulled out until the bottom of the basket is horizontal or in whatever plane may be desired. The set screws 15 are then tightened to secure the adjustment of the rods.

The basket in this instance would preferably contain items related to the vegetables, such as salad dressing. The basket may similarly be mounted on fixtures of different constructions and carrying different kinds of merchandise. In such cases the auxiliary basket preferably ,contains items related to the merchandise displayed on the fixture. As another example, a basket mounted on a display of macaroni would contain packages of grated cheese or meat sauce.

The forward wall of the basket is preferably covered by a wide molding 20 for carrying one or more display cards. For the purpose of attachment, short strips 21 may be welded to the forward wall and the molding 20 secured thereto by screws 22. The longitudinal edges of the molding are beaded at 23 and grooved at 24 to receive the edges of the display card or cards as shown in the art.

The ends are also fitted with card carriers 25. Each such carrier is a rectangular frame of channel cross sections with a slot 26 through the entire length of the upper side for insertion of the price tag.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction will be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claim.

What we claim is:

In a wire basket having a bottom and having at its back two vertical hanging hooks near the ends thereof, the improvement which comprises reinforcing and levelling means comprising a pair of parallel tubes disposed under the bottom and firmly secured thereto and extending completely across it from front to back thereof, the rear ends of said tubes being open, separate solid rods individually and slidably mounted in said tubes and of length such as to project at all times beyond the rear open ends thereof, collars on the rear ends of said tubes, and winged head set screws in said collars for tightening said rods in adjusted position in said tubes.

Judkins May 29, 1923 West July 21, 1925 (Other references on following page) 3, UNITED STATES PATENTS Kenyon Sept. 4, 1928 Honsowetz July 5, 1932 Bendlctona M311. 7,- 193-3 Schilling. 1... Oct. 1, 1935- Provost .3 July 12, 1938 4 Hopp Apr. 20, 1943 Notes Apr. 21, 1953 Johnson Mar. 23, 1954 French et a1 Mar. 20, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 8, 1937 

